sunset from behind the wire

Friday, December 22, 2017

Everything happens along Party lines these days. That's just how it is.

Background - This is the first significant reform of the U.S. tax code since 1986. President Reagan signed major legislation for corporations and individuals in 1986. Since then, serious tax reform has eluded Republicans, though they repeatedly called for it as the tax code became longer and more arcane.

The Tax Reform and Jobs Act may result in you paying more or less tax. It will clearly help generate jobs and will help the economy along broad lines.

The wicked, lying, corrupt, smug, sly mainstream media have been working overtime to repudiate the benefits to the nation, characterizing the tax cut as a give-away to the rich. Clearly, the big winners are businesses who are being taxed at 21% rather than the 35% they were paying. The Democrats seem to want to return to the years of Obamanation when the DJI was 5,000 points lower. Whatever.

Three Years Ago - the following taxes were implemented as part of the so-called Affordable Care Act:

Medicare tax went from 1.45% to 2.35%

The top income tax bracket was raised from 35% to 39.6%

The top income payroll tax went from 37.4% to 52.2%

Capital gains tax went from 15% to 28%

Dividend tax went from 15% to 39.6%

A 3.5% real estate transaction tax was imposed.

There was also the individual mandate tax for those who chose not to buy government sanctioned healthcare insurance.

I read a piece on CNN that stated that Obama tax reform was larger than the present tax bill. It's a blatant lie, but it's what we've come to expect from CNN and other news outlets.

It's time to cast the runes and make predictions for 2018 (and beyond). I wanted to get a jump on people who were predicting closer to the New Year.

2018 Superbowl: Patriots vs Eagles. I like the Steelers, but I'm predicting and trying to keep my personal favoritism out of the prognosticating.

Soccer World Cup: I know for sure that it will be played out in Moscow. I favor Uruguay, but it's still too far off to read the tea leaves effectively.

President Trump: A large infrastructure spending bill will pas through Congress as will an overhaul of the failed ObamaCare disaster. The construction of a big, beautiful, border wall with Mexico will be begin as the president works hard to make America great again. The US military will be rebuilt with an emphasis on sustainability rather than showmanship. Priorities shifted away from the weather as the principal enemy in 2017. Diversity and transgenderism will no longer be a priority though EEO will continue as it has since the 1960's.

President Trump will appoint two new Supreme Court justices in 2018, swinging the high court in a conservative direction for a generation to Make America Great Again.

Congress: The Republicans will continue to control both houses of the legislature.

Hillary Clinton will be indicted and convicted of selected felonies and she'll be remanded to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Dead Pool: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will agree to a tell-all of Hillary Clinton and before he can testify, he will commit suicide with a chainsaw. Rep. Nancy Pelosi will publish her memoirs (damaging to the Clintons) and will commit suicide with Chuck's chainsaw. Joe Biden will be appointed to the US Senate (for NY) and will be asked to step down the next day due to sexual harassment allegations. He will subsequently commit suicide with Chuck's chainsaw.

Housekeeping

As of January 1, 2017 this blog began to receive anonymous posts. I try not to delete them, but if you want to be taken seriously here, you need to identify yourself, if only by some sort of cryptonym.

Welcome to Virtual Mirage

"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.

"Oh, you can't help that," said the cat. "We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad."

"How do you know I'm mad," asked Alice?

"You must be," said the cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

Good Morning

Virtual Mirage - What's on the other side of the mirror? Ask Alice how deep the rabbit hole really goes.

This blog is an extension of MY JOURNEY because sometimes my journey needs more explanation, and sometimes there is more to be said than can be expressed on one ordinary blog.

Sometimes it's politics (very serious), sometimes I address the human condition with a dose of humor, and other times it may seem as if the track is headed in a unique direction. I can be a complicated guy at times.

There are a few things you'll find I consider:

* Absence of proof is not proof of absence.

* Sometimes the questions are complex but the answers are simple.

* Love is the only condition where the happiness of another person is essential to your own.

* Steers do not sign treaties with meat packers. (think on that)

* Taxes are NEVER levied for the benefit of the taxed.

* The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no victory possible in defense.

WHITE POWDER (Novel)

There is something intoxicating about a secret.

THE OLD WHORE (NOVEL)

In the peculiar culture of the Central Intelligence Agency, "old whores" are people who will do whatever it takes to get the job done, irrespective of the cost.

EXILES FROM EDEN (NOVEL)

Sparks fly as two star-crossed lovers meet. He runs toward trouble as she yearns for something missing. And it ends in a flight from and toward justice.

About Me

Today, I balance work and play as much as anyone can. All things remaining equal, play is more important. Life is short - it's important to make every day count for something, if only to yourself.
I'm a former tinker/tailor/soldier/sailor who has now decided that maybe it really wasn't all done for nothing.

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